HENRY SNUBBED

DESPITE some impressive performances for Arsenal in recent weeks, Thierry Henry has been given a major snub by France national coach Roger Lemerre, who has named the fleet footed striker in the `A` squad.

It was widely expected that the 22-year-old would earn a recall to the side for the friendly clash with Poland at the Stade de France on February 23, but Lemerre (pictured) has decided to place the former Monaco forward in the reserves.

As well as Henry`s snub, Bordeaux midfielder Johan Micoud has also been dropped to the second string after a series of unconvincing performances in Le Championnat.

A major surprise is the recall of Metz keeper Lionel Letizi. The shot stopper has not figured since a fixture against Russia in 1998.

Despite Henry not being included in the squad, the Premiership is well represented with Chelsea`s Frank Leboeuf, Marcel Desailly and Didier Deschamps, as well as Henry`s Arsenal team mates Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit. France Squad Fabien Barthez (Monaco), Lionel Letizi (Metz), Laurent Blanc (Inter Milan), Vincent Candela (Roma), Marcel Desailly (Chelsea), Frank Leboeuf (Chelsea), Bixente Lizarazu (Bayern Munich), Lilian Thuram (Parma), Didier Deschamps (Chelsea), Emmanuel Petit (Arsenal), Robert Pires (Marseille), Patrick Vieira (Arsenal), Zinedine Zidane (Juventus), Youri Djorkaeff (Kaiserslautern), Stéphane Guivarc`h (Auxerre), David Trezeguet (Monaco), Tony Vairelles (Lyon), Sylvain Wiltord (Bordeaux). A Squad Mickael Landreau (Nantes), Ulrich Rame (Bordeaux), Jerome Bonnissel (Bordeaux), Philippe Christanval (Monaco), Frederic Dehu (Barcelona), Martin Djetou (Monaco), Francois Grenet (Bordeaux), Franck Jurietti (Bastia), Ludovic Giuly (Monaco), Christian Karembeu (Real Madrid), Sabri Lamouchi (Monaco), Sylvain Legwinski (Bordeaux), Johan Micoud (Bordeaux), Claude Makelele (Celta Vigo), Bernard Diomede (Auxerre), Thierry Henry (Arsenal), Lilian Laslandes (Bordeaux), Frederic Nee (Bastia).

Patrick Haond